Here are some book suggestions you might want to explore.
Hummingbirds by Nicola Davies begins: ” Ruby-throated hummingbirds are tiny- they weigh less than a nickel – but every spring they fly up to 2,000 miles from Mexico and Central America to spend the summer in the United States and Canada, where they build their nests and have their babies. In the fall, they fly all the way back again to spend the winter where it’s warm.” A story begins in a granny’s garden in Central America where she and her visiting granddaughter are enjoying the beauty and wonder of the hummingbirds all around. The girl flies home to New York and the hummingbirds follow – though they take much longer. Readers learn all about the hummingbird migration until the reach the girl New York city where they raise their young and are ready to travel back again to granny’s garden. There are lots of interesting facts tucked into the story. Did you know hummingbird nests are made with thistledown, lichen and spider silk so they are stretchy enough to expand as the fledging grow? Did you know scientist have been able to band some hummingbirds and have learned they can live nine years? There’s lots to discover in the gorgeous book. Enjoy!
Who Built That? Bridges by Didier Cornille introduces ten important bridges and their designers. Starting in 1779 with the first cast iron bridge built by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard in the United Kingdom and ending with the Mucen Footbridge built in 2013 by Rudy Ricciotti in France readers learn about the design challenges architects and tackled to create stronger, longer lasting and more beautiful structures through time. It is interesting to learn about the structural, design factors designers and builders need to consider and how much present bridge makers rely on the work of those before them to guide their choices and help them consider options when issues arise. It’s fun to imagine what the future will bring.
It’s still early in Frankie Sparks’ 3rd grade year, but it seems as though it’s going to be a good one. She likes her teacher, Ms. Cupid and her best friend is in her class this year too. Frankie is looking forward to sharing her weekend trip to visit her aunt who is a rodentologist at a nearby university. The story of her visit connects perfectly with the next thing the teacher has to share with the class. Ms. Cupid unveils an empty aquarium and says they have a week to research and create a convincing presentation about what their class pet should be. Frankie knows immediately that the class should get a rat and she begins to convince others, knowing her best friend will certainly agree – except she doesn’t. Frankie has some decisions to make – and they’re not easy. I think you’ll like reading all about it in, Frankie Sparks and the Class Pet by Megan Frazer Blakemore.
Eric Harper misses his grandmother – misses knowing she’s right down the path in her farm house. She’s in a nursing home and her farm has been sold to a veterinarian with a daughter who is bossy and rude. Eric figured this out when they met – she was posting a “No Trespassing – No Hunting” sign in his treehouse tree on his family’s property, Harper Woods. That same day Eric discovered that the famed white deer of the woods did exist, but it was not a deer. Eric knew that no deer shimmered like that and that no deer had an ivory colored horn on its forehead. Eric discovered the “deer” was a unicorn and that it was hurt and needed care. After following the unicorn to the barn, Eric is hired to help. One of his jobs is to care for the unicorn and that’s just the beginning of the adventure. Eric has much more to learn about his family history, his destiny and the secrets of Harper Woods. Read The Unicorn in the Barn by Jacqueline K. Ogburn. You’ll be glad you did.
If you’ve got some books to recommend, please leave a comment. What have you been reading this summer?